Use of nuclear magnetic resonance and gas-liquid chromatography for the study of microbial nitrile-hydratases and amidases

Some microbial strains can hydrolyse many nitriles to the corresponding organic acids by means of two enzymes: a nitrile-hydratase which hydrates the nitrile to the corresponding amide, and an amidase which hydrolyses the amide to the corresponding acid. Two methods are proposed for the assay of the enzymatic activities: proton magnetic resonance spectrometry (n.m.r.) and gas-liquid chromatography (g.l.c.). For the assay of these enzymatic activities (nitrile-hydratase and amidase), g.l.c, was better, because it was more precise and much more sensitive than the n.m.r, method. The examples of acetonitrile and acetamide are described in detail.